A fleeing motorist drove over road spikes twice while being pursued by five police cars in a chase that circled Otangarei several times.
Whangarei police Sergeant Graham Povey said the drama began at 7.05pm on Saturday when police chased a Subaru station wagon along Kamo Rd and into Otangarei at more
than 100km/h.
The Subaru then did four laps of Otangarei at varying speeds with police on its tail.
Mr Povey said the station wagon was spiked twice.
Its occupants were allegedly throwing beer bottles out of the vehicle.
"The Subaru was finally stopped and the three men in it were taken into custody."
The three, in their 30s, were known to police. Two were from Whangarei and the other from Auckland.
The man at the wheel was charged with driving with excess breath-alcohol, driving while disqualified and dangerous and reckless driving.
The other two men were held on associated charges.
Mr Povey said police were still investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, an Onerahi man stopped and breath-tested by police in Kamo Rd at 12.02am yesterday copped his third charge of driving with excess breath-alcohol when he recorded 467 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.
At 8.15am yesterday, police stopped a 20-year-old motorist in Maunu, and breath-tested him after he was seen gesturing at other motorists.
He was charged with driving with excess breath-alcohol after recording 609 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.
The legal limit for motorists aged 20 and above is 400mcg.
